Tuesday, March 31, 2015

If you, or someone you love or care for, suffers from the chronic, nerve-damaging disease Multiple Sclerosis, here’s important diet news; research now indicates that what you eat or don’t eat can make a big difference in the condition’s progression. There are foods that appear to dramatically relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis. There are also foods to avoid with multiple sclerosis – foods that can exacerbate symptoms – according to the UK charity Overcoming MS and to findings in scientific studies.

Recent research indicates that diet and other lifestyle modifications can aid in managing MS, including a diet that is very low in saturated fat, plus supplementation with essential fatty acids, sunlight or vitamin D supplementation, stress management techniques, and regular exercise. Such activities can significantly aid in slowing MS’s progression.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis, often known as simply "MS", affects an estimated 400,000 people in the U.S., with about 200 new cases diagnosed each week. MS is considered the most globally widespread of the disabling types of neurological maladies affecting young adults, according to Healthline.com.
Those with MS deal with a multitude of variable symptoms, based on which of the types of multiple sclerosis is affecting them.

What causes MS? This is presently unknown. But MS appears to be brought on by a combination of environmental factors and a genetic predisposition, according to the National MS Society. MS damages the myelin coating that surrounds nerve fibers in the central nervous system, and can even damage the nerve fibers scrambling the nerve messages going to and coming from the brain.

Diet and Multiple Sclerosis

MS: What to eat

The short version is this: focus on a diet of plant-based whole foods, and include fish. “Whole foods” means the basics – think potato instead of potato chip; carrot instead of carrot cake; baked fish instead of breaded and deep-fried fish; rice instead of Rice Krispies treats.

Processed, non-whole foods have many added ingredients or methods of preparation that often reduce the health value per bite, that can harm a person with MS.